Advocate Paul Hoffman, director of Accountability Now, has dismissed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest anti-corruption announcement as “both late and utterly underwhelming,” arguing that it fails to address systemic flaws in South Africa’s criminal justice system.
Hoffman, speaking via video link during a televised interview, criticized the president’s reliance on yet another commission of inquiry, stating that it would do little to combat corruption effectively. “The problem is that the system is not working as it should,” he said. “We need an independent, specialized anti-corruption body—not another commission whose findings can be ignored by the executive.”
A Call for Structural Reform
Hoffman emphasized that the Constitutional Court had previously ordered Parliament to establish an independent anti-corruption body, but this had not been properly implemented. He argued that such an agency should operate free from political interference, with secure funding and tenure to avoid the fate of the disbanded Scorpions unit.
“What we need is a standing statutory commission under Chapter 9 of the Constitution—one that reports to Parliament, not the Cabinet,” Hoffman said. He praised the Democratic Alliance’s proposed model as constitutionally sound, contrasting it with the advisory council led by Professor Firoz Cachalia, whom he accused of seeking “ways around” court-mandated reforms.
Criticism of Ramaphosa’s Approach
Hoffman accused the president of treating symptoms rather than root causes, pointing to the recent appointment of Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister as another missed opportunity. While acknowledging Cachalia’s experience, Hoffman expressed concern over his past resistance to a fully independent anti-corruption body.
Public Reaction and Next Steps
The remarks come amid growing frustration over South Africa’s slow progress in tackling high-level corruption. Political analysts suggest Ramaphosa’s latest measures may be seen as an attempt to placate public anger without enacting bold reforms.
As the debate continues, civil society groups are expected to ramp up pressure for legislative action. For now, Hoffman’s critique underscores a key challenge: without an empowered, impartial anti-corruption body, South Africa’s graft crisis may persist unchecked.